Corporal Punishment in Schools

Two Examples
I hadn't heard about physical punishment in schools lately. I didn't even know it still existed. But, I found that 22 states still allow it. That means that there are still hundreds of schools that physically punish their students. But, how far does it go before it is too much? One of the states that still allow it is Missouri. According to an article in a past issue of People Magazine, there is a boot camp called Heartland Christian Academy. It is a boot camp for troubled kids ranging in age from 5 to 17. An "insurance tycoon turned preacher", Charles Sharpe, poured all his money into this school, (Eftimiades, 2006), The academy is founded on strict Christian principles and corporal punishment. During an interview with 14 year old student Matt Smith, it was learned that he was paddled more than 300 times with a 2½ foot wooden paddle, throughout the 19 months since he arrived for things such as looking at a girl or passing a note in class. In fact, last year, after he refused to stand with his nose facing a fire extinguisher as a punishment for being loud, a staff member broke his arm by bending it behind his back. Matt isn't the only one to be hurt like that. A student's eardrum was punctured during an altercation with a staff member, and there have been numerous reports from students of sexual abuse by staff members. There are even a number of registered sex offenders working at this school, (Eftimiades, 2006).

Apparently, Heartland isn't the only school that is this severe. Many schools in Alabama also allow paddling. According to an ABC reporter, a 7 year old in Mobile County was black and blue on his bottom, (Osunsami, 2002). His mother took him to the hospital and reported it to the authorities. Imagine her shock when she found out it was completely acceptable. There was nothing she could do about it. What made her even madder is the fact that no one asked for her permission. But, there is no law saying they have to get the parent's permission. The reason for the paddling? He picked his nose.

Arguments against Corporal Punishment
There are many arguments that are being used by critics. The main ones mentioned in Corporal Punishments in Schools: It's Use is Abuse are that it is "unnecessary, it preempts the means of communicating with the child, it teaches by example that the infliction of pain on others is permissible, and it can escalate into more severe beatings" (Cryan, 1981) I will go through each of these in more detail.

It is unnecessary. A study back in 1974 showed that 85% of teachers liked the idea of making corporal punishment against the law, (Cryan, 1981). By 1979, not one teacher or principle could be found that believed hitting belonged it schools. In fact, another study showed that the majority of parents went to school officials for help on how to raise their child without resulting in physical harm. It was found that using other means of punishment, such as detention or even suspension, has had better effectiveness than hitting. Student academics improved and attitudes within the school grew positive. Many other things have been found necessary. Like an appropriate curriculum that serves the needs of the children, an enthusiastic faculty who enjoy watching kids grow and learn, and an administration that truly cares about the lives and education of the students more than their own advancement in careers.

Corporal punishment preempts better means of communicating with a child. Think about it. Doctors tend to look for a quick cure to illnesses. Instead of working with the patient to eat healthy and exercise, the doctor would rather prescribe diet pills or some other form of diet aid. It's the same way with teachers. Instead of working with the student to improve his or her behavior, they resort to hitting as a quick fixer. Paddles give a false promise to a quick cure, which preempts better means of communicating with the child.

Corporal punishments teaches by example that the infliction of pain on others is acceptable. Have you ever heard of the fable about the parrot in the henhouse? Well, the parrot owner wanted his pet to say "uncle!" He repeatedly smacked the bird telling it to say "uncle!" When the stubborn bird refused to say it, the owner put it out with the hens. The following night, he heard a lot of noises and went out to investigate. He found the parrot smacking the hens telling them to say "uncle!" What is the lesson? That hitting a child, or a parrot, teaches them it is OK to hit. Saying that hitting is justifiable in any reason gives a parent or a teacher permission to hit for any reason, and leads to child abuse. In fact, studies have shown that in the areas where corporal punishment is allowed in schools, the child abuse in homes are also high.

Corporal punishment leads to severe battering. Paddles used by teachers are usually five times the size of ping pong paddles, heavy, wooden with holes to create blisters, and capable damaging kidneys, cause broken bones, and concussions. In fact, these have happened. Reports that have been found are very disturbing. Some of these include cases in which children were roped together, tied to the back of a truck and dragged around the parking lot, teens being forced to eat up to 18 cigarettes, leaving them terribly sick and with ulcers, a second grade boy had his face pounded into a table which broke his nose, and more than one case in which a preschooler was beaten to death because they couldn't say their ABC's. In one case, the police found the preacher/teacher still beating the dead body of a teenage boy, (Yancey, 2006).

Arguments for Corporal Punishment
Surprisingly, not everyone is against this severe punishment. What is the point of view of these people? According to David Mason, since the elimination of corporal punishment in the school he works at, there has been an increase of defiance, chaos, threats, cursing, and assault. He started teaching very opposed to corporal punishment about 29 years ago. But because of the growing rate of teenage delinquents, he has changed his opinion. He says that misbehaving children have come to believe that no one can stop them. When they are told that spanking is possible, they don't believe it. Mason believes that parents should teach their children how to behave at home, but unfortunately, they don't. He says that a quick smack on the bottom is a quick and painful consequence to their actions. He believes this stops their future behavior from being bad.

Here is an excerpt from an article I found at SecondaryEnglish.com about the limitations of punishments like suspension or detention, and why some believe corporate punishment is necessary.

How Can We Stop This?
Regardless of the arguments, in my opinion, corporal punishment needs to stop. But how can it? There are programs that have been created to help teachers, and parents, with frustration. They are given effective means to controlling their students without hurting them. Here are other ways to protect your child if he or she goes to a school in a state that still allows corporal punishment, (Carpenter, 2006).
Ask for a written copy of your school district's punishment policy
Ask about the school's policy- does the school allow it?
Make your wishes known early, and
Put it in writing
Another thing parents and teachers can do is think of alternatives to hitting. No matter the reason, no child deserves to be hit.

References
Carpenter, Maile Punishment at School: How to Protect Your Child
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/
(Accessed October 25, 2006)

Cryan, John R., (1981) Corporal Punishment in the Schools: It's Use is Abuse
Toledo: University of Toledo, College of Education and Allied Professions

Yancey, Tim Voluntary Corporal Punishment Reduces Suspension Rates
http://www.secondaryenglish.com/voluntary.html
(Accessed October 20, 2006)